Intro to Business - Ch. 7

A real estate agency matches its brokers to the type of groups it services: first-time home buyers, urban dwellers, house flippers, business owners, etc. This exemplifies ______ departmentalization.

customer

After assigning specialized tasks to individuals, managers next organize workers doing similar jobs into groups to make them easier to manage and this is known as _______.

departmentalization

The grouping of jobs into working units usually called departments, units, groups, or divisions is called ______.

departmentalization

Because of vast differences between different regions, multinational corporations often use ______ departmentalization.

geographic

When a company looks to departmentalize by areas of business like Japan, America, and Australia it is exemplifying departmentalization by ______.

geographic location

The most significant informal communication occurs through the __________ , an informal channel of communication, separate from management's formal, official communication channels.

grapevine

The obligation, placed on employees through delegation, to perform assigned tasks satisfactorily and be held accountable for the proper execution of work is the definition of ______.

responsibility

Dividing specific tasks into smaller jobs based on employee skill is called ______.

specialization

A ______ _______ is a temporary group of employees responsible for bringing about a particular change.

task force

A ______ is a group of employees, selected for their expertise, who come together on a temporary basis to bring about a particular change in an organization.

task force

Why do firms usually feel the need to restructure?

- Traditional structures become difficult to coordinate. - Decision making has slowed down. - The firm has experienced growth and diversification.

Which two of the following characterize centralized organizations?

- Very little decision-making authority is delegated to lower levels. - Authority is concentrated at the top levels of the organization.

_____ communication involves the exchange of information among colleagues and peers on the same organizational level, such as across or within departments.

Horizontal

Mistakes in both oral and written ________ systems within the organization can lower productivity and morale.

communication

What three items characterize work teams?

- Creates collective work products - Has shared leadership roles - Has both individual and mutual accountability

Which two factors would lead to a business being more centralized in its organization?

- Decisions to be made are risky. - Low-level managers are not highly skilled in decision-making.

Which of the following three items characterize a work group?

- Emphasis on individual work products - Promotes individual leadership - Emphasis on individual accountability

Select from the following those items that are benefits of teams.

- Have a wider breadth of skills - Can pool members' knowledge - Have the ability to create more solutions

______ communication takes place when individuals from different levels and different departments communicate.

Diagonal

What word reflects the rationale for specialization in the workplace?

Efficiency

In a(n) ______ organization the decision-making authority is delegated as far down the chain of command as possible.

decentralized

Rather than have the top level of management make all the decisions, Jake's company gives all lower-level managers the authority to make decisions for his or her department. Jake's company operates as a(n) ______ organization.

decentralized

The flow of communication within the formal organizational structure is called ______.

formal communication

The owner of a flower shop has three employees. Two employees are better at arranging flowers in a vase while the third is skilled at preparing the flowers to be arranged. Separating the employees by these skills is called ______.

specialization

A ______ is a small group whose members have complementary skills; have a common purpose, goals, and approach; and hold themselves mutually accountable.

team

This word is defined as a small group whose members have complementary skills, have a common purpose, goals, and approach; and hold themselves mutually accountable.

team

The arrangement or relationship of positions within an organization is referred to as ______.

the organization's structure

A company has three main product lines: cleaning products, laundry products, and paper products. If it organizes its jobs around these product lines, it is using which form for departmentalization?

Product

______ teams are similar to task forces, but normally they run their operation and have total control of a specific work project.

Project

True or false: Every organization, regardless of size, organizational type, product, or profit objective has a corporate culture.

True

A(n) _______ organization structure, also called a project management structure, superimposes project-based departments on the more traditional function-based departments.

matrix

When different members of an engineering firm come together to work temporarily on a specific project they are operating in a ______.

matrix organization

A _____ structure organizes departments into larger groups called divisions.

multidivisional

A firm is looking to restructure its organization into larger groups. It is deciding whether to organize its departments on the basis of geography, customer type, or product. Either way, structuring the firm in this way is utilizing the ______ structure.

multidivisional

If an organization temporarily borrows its specialists from different functional areas to accomplish a common project, it is implementing what type of organization?

Matrix

A permanent, formal group that performs a specific task is called a ______.

committee

An organization's values, beliefs, traditions, rules, and role models for behavior that are shared by all are an organization's _______.

culture

If Pete was tasked with developing an organizational structure for his company, he would ______.

define the various positions in the company and their relationship to one another

Giving employees not only tasks but also the power to make commitments, use resources, and take whatever actions are necessary to carry out those tasks is the definition of ______.

delegation of authority

Self-________ work teams means that they are empowered to make decisions without management approval.

directed

The form of departmentalization that groups jobs that perform similar functional activities, like finance and marketing, is called ______ departmentalization.

functional

An informal channel of communication separate from management's formal official communications related to a job or organization that can sometimes be gossip is called a ______.

grapevine

The levels of management in an organization are collectively referred to as ______.

organzational layers

If a book seller was to separate its organization according to the types of books it sells it would be an example of departmentalization by ______.

product

A _____ span of management exists when a manager directly supervises a very large number of employees.

wide

Tammie was communicating to her employees the proper way to handle abuse in the workplace. One individual kept interjecting comments while Tammie was speaking. This behavior is known as ______ and can be a serious barrier to effective communication.

an interruption

Your text defines a _____ as two or more individuals who communicate with one another, share a common identity, and have a common goal.

group

Organizational _______ are the levels of management in an organzation.

layers

If a team is empowered to make decisions without management approval first then it is said to be ______.

self-directed

Internal company networks that increase communication across different departments and levels of management and help with the flow of everyday business activities are called ______.

Intranets

This type of team is defined as small groups or workers brought together from throughout the organization to solve specific quality, productivity, or service problems.

Quality-assurance teams

The functional approach to departmentalization is common in ______ organizations.

small

Delegation of _________ means not only giving tasks to employees but also empowering them to make commitments, use resources, and take whatever actions are necessary to carry out those tasks.

authority

An organization structure in which decision-making authority is maintained at the top level of management is called a(n) ______ organization.

centralized

When the decisions to be made by a business are risky, and low-level managers are not highly skilled in decision making, the company tends to be more _____.

centralized

Dante works at a manufacturing plant. He has been asked by the upper management to be part of a formal, permanent group that will specifically work with union laborers to address all concerns and draft company policy regarding union benefits. Dante has been asked to be part of a ______.

committee

The arrangement of jobs around the needs of various types of customers is know as ______.

departmentalization by customer group

For a team to maximize its contribution to the firm it must ______.

engage in a a harmonious, synchronized work effort that remains flexible to changing conditions

In order for communication to be effective in the workplace, managers need to solicit comments and criticism from employees to their communication messages. This input from employees is referred to as ______.

feedback

This word is defined as two or more individuals who communicate with one another, share a common identity, and have a common goal.

group

A ________ structure has a clear chain of command, which enables managers to make decisions quickly. A mid-level manager facing a decision must consult only one person, his or her immediate supervisor.

line

An organization that has direct two-way lines of responsibility, authority, and communication running from the top to the bottom of the organization, with all people reporting to only one supervisor is called a(n) ______ structure.

line

The ______ and ______ structure has a traditional line relationship between superiors and subordinates, and specialized managers---called staff managers---are available to assist line managers. (Enter one word in each blank.)

line, staff

Marvelous Motor Works sells vehicles directly to businesses for use in their companies. Marvelous Motor Works has a manager for each type of vehicle it sells (cars, trucks, and delivery vehicles). The salespeople for each product report directly to his or her manager but may also consult the financing department and legal department to handle issues relating to financing and liability issues. This is an example of a(n) ______ organization.

line-and-staff

A(n) _______ chart shows relationships among people; who is accountable for the completion of specific work, and who reports to whom.

organizational

To find out the relationships among people in a company one may consult the company's ______.

organizational chart

A special type of team formed to devise, design, and implement a new product is a ______.

product-development team

A team that runs its own operation and has total control of a specific work project is called a ______.

project team

Quality-assurance teams are also referred to as ______ _______.

quality circles

Cybill's manager wanted her to design the new ad campaign for the firm's new product. She was given all the necessary resources to complete the task. Cybill understands that her manager is going to hold her accountable to make sure the ad campaign is executed successfully. This exemplifies the concept of ______.

responsibility

Carl's landscaping business started out small, but has grown into a large business with many clients. Originally, all the employees reported to Carl, but he now thinks it is time to hire two more people; one to manage the lawn maintenance business, and one to manage the design business. Each of these managers will supervise their own employees. By adding this additional layer of management, Carl is in the process of ______.

restructuring his firm

At its core, the reason companies divide labor and specialize is because ______.

they want to be as efficient as possible

Channels of communication that are intentionally defined and designed by the organization are designated as _____________ communication channels.

formal

A _______ structure, also called a project management structure, sets up teams from different departments, thereby creating two or more intersecting lines of authority.

matrix

With its current product line being sold in a saturated and mature market, Wonder widgets wants to develop a new product that will put the company at the forefront of emerging technology. It has assembled a team to devise, design, and implement this new product. What type of team has Wonder widgets created?

product-development team

The number of subordinates who report to a particular manager is his or her ________ of management. (one word answer).

span